Chapter 229: Men Have Their Off Days Too

Chapter 229: Men Have Their Off Days Too

"Whose is this?" Lady Bishuo picked up the embroidered pouch.

At first glance, she saw the rough and simple stitching, with mandarin ducks that looked more like ducks than anything else.

"Not mine."

"Not mine either."

"The embroidery is so ugly; it can't be ours."

The maids shook their heads as they saw the pouch.

Hearing them all deny it was theirs, Lady Bishuo put the pouch away for the time being. "Alright, you can all go back. I'll investigate myself."

"Yes, Lady Bishuo."

The maids quickly dispersed into the inner palace.

After they left, Lady Bishuo took the pouch again and closely examined the embroidery on it, her brows slightly furrowed.

Who would carry something with such ugly embroidery?

As Cheng Yunshuo returned from delivering the items to the Imperial Household Department, he overheard the guards discussing.

"Those young maids today were really cute, chattering and sneaking glances at us."

"Indeed, I saw one with a pink floral hairpin on her head, like a little sparrow."

"I actually thought the one standing in the middle was fair and lovely, with bright eyes."

The group continued discussing, and then the Imperial Guards' leader spoke up, "I actually think that head lady was pretty."

"Really, Brother Li? That head lady is already in her twenties. Who wants to look at someone that old?"

"Exactly, who doesn't look at the young maids and instead looks at the older ladies?"

"She could be my mother at that age."

Hearing this, Li, the Imperial Guards leader, glanced at Cheng Yunshuo, who had remained silent throughout the conversation. "Yunshuo, which of the maids today did you think was the prettiest?"

Cheng Yunshuo couldn't even remember what the maids looked like; he hadn't paid attention at all.

When asked by the others, he casually replied, "They all look alike to me."

As soon as he finished speaking, his comrades burst into laughter.

"Yunshuo's seen it all—every woman looks the same to him."

"That's true, Yunshuo has seen all kinds of beauties."

"When it comes to this, we should listen to Yunshuo!"

Cheng Yunshuo frowned as he heard his comrades teasing him. The quality of the Imperial Guards was indeed higher than that of the Imperial Guard, even their teasing was on a higher level, but it was still too much for him to bear.

It was bad enough that people still remembered his past mistakes. He couldn't hold his face straight and excused himself to use the bathroom, quickly heading back.

At that moment, Li, the Imperial Guards leader, suddenly remembered something. "By the way, I just realized Lady Bishuo reminds me of someone. She looks like..."

"Yunshuo!"

"I gotta go to the bathroom, we’ll talk later."

Cheng Yunshuo left at a quick pace.

The inner quarters of the Ningyang Marquisate.

In Xiaohe Courtyard.

After resting all morning, Du Ruo felt refreshed in the afternoon and finished embroidering the socks she had started for Cheng Yunshuo.

By the time Cheng Yunshuo returned in the evening, the pair of socks was already complete.

"Master, you’re finally back!"

Du Ruo went forward and, with utmost gentleness, helped him undress.

"How was your rest today?"

"It was great," Du Ruo said with a sweet smile, her eyes sparkling with affection. "I just missed you, Master. Did you miss me?"

Cheng Yunshuo: "..."

Cheng Yunshuo couldn’t figure out why, but lately, her playful behavior was starting to grate on his nerves, even though he used to be patient and indulgent.

Perhaps it was because seeing her like this reminded him of someone, but Du Ruo was not that person.

Sometimes, people win favor because they remind you of someone else, but that same resemblance can also become annoying over time.

Unaware of Cheng Yunshuo’s growing irritation, Du Ruo noticed the empty space at his waist after helping him undress. "Master, where is the embroidered sachet I made for you?"

"The sachet’s right here," Cheng Yunshuo said dismissively, as if it were no big deal.

"No, it's not," Du Ruo said, showing him her empty hands. "Did you lose it?"

He glanced down and indeed didn’t see the sachet around his waist. His eyes still held that indifferent look. "Must have dropped it, then."

His casual tone made Du Ruo’s blood boil. "How could you lose it? I spent over two weeks on that, and it was my very first finished piece!"

Du Ruo grumbled dissatisfiedly.

"I never asked you to make it. You did it on your own," Cheng Yunshuo replied, his tone cold and indifferent.

Du Ruo felt a lump rise in her throat, her heart heavy with frustration. How could he say something so callous?

"Master! That was a token of my feelings, do you understand what that means?" she asked him, unwilling to let it go.

This only caused Cheng Yunshuo to furrow his brow even more. "It’s just a sachet. I’ll buy you ten more tomorrow."

"That was a gift I gave you, every stitch sewn by my own hands. What can you give to replace it?"

"What do you want me to do about it?" Cheng Yunshuo’s impatience had clearly reached its peak.

Du Ruo looked into Cheng Yunshuo’s eyes, but the words died in her throat. "I..."

Why did she feel so hurt that he had lost her gift, while he acted like it was her problem to solve?

Shouldn't he be the one to soothe her?

How did it end up with him acting like he was in the right, and her like she was just being unreasonable?

Du Ruo felt a mix of anger and hurt, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why. She snorted and lowered her head, her face full of grievance.

Seeing this, Cheng Yunshuo spoke, "I'll look for it later."

"Hmm." Du Ruo hummed, still upset.

Seeing that she was still upset, Cheng Yunshuo didn’t feel like trying to comfort her anymore. "I've been tired all day, and I have to work tomorrow. I'm going to sleep now."

He had already eaten at Lu Lingyun’s place.

Before she could say anything, Cheng Yunshuo had already quietly walked to the bed, pulling the quilt over himself, turning his back to her, and falling asleep.

At that moment, Du Ruo felt a hollow ache in her heart.

She turned to look at the table she had set up.

There, she had prepared two jars of good wine and dishes to go with it.

She had spent her own money to have these specially prepared, as she remembered how Cheng Yunshuo had gone to the brothel alone to drink with the courtesans.

She had hoped to drink with Cheng Yunshuo tonight, to help him unwind.

She wanted to tell him that no one in the mansion understood her, but she understood him.

She could accompany him like before, talking about everything under the sky, letting him express all his troubles.

But it seemed she had thought too much...

Lu Lingyun, in the room, watched the three children sleep soundly. She felt unusually relaxed and leisurely, enjoying the moonlight in the courtyard. At that moment, Xiaoqin came over to report about the matters in Xiaohe Courtyard.

Listening to how Cheng Yunshuo had gone to sleep while Du Ruo was drinking alone, grumbling and questioning the heavens about why her master had been so downcast and unwilling to talk to her lately, even though she hadn't done anything wrong, Lu Lingyun chuckled softly.

It truly had nothing to do with Du Ruo. If there was a reason...

It might just be one of those days when men get moody.